CA2649548A1 - Air brake coupling padlock - Google Patents
Air brake coupling padlock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2649548A1 CA2649548A1 CA 2649548 CA2649548A CA2649548A1 CA 2649548 A1 CA2649548 A1 CA 2649548A1 CA 2649548 CA2649548 CA 2649548 CA 2649548 A CA2649548 A CA 2649548A CA 2649548 A1 CA2649548 A1 CA 2649548A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- padlock
- post
- shackle
- airway cavity
- legs
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B67/00—Padlocks; Details thereof
- E05B67/06—Shackles; Arrangement of the shackle
- E05B67/22—Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
- E05B67/24—Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement with built- in cylinder locks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
- B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
- B60R25/08—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on brakes or brake systems
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B73/00—Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices
Abstract
A padlock for blocking an airway cavity of an air brake coupling of a trailer, the padlock having a U-Shaped shackle with two legs sized to straddle opposing sides of an airway cavity enclosure of the air brake coupling, a body with a corresponding leg passage for each of the two legs, a post attached to the padlock for insertion of the post into the airway cavity of the air brake coupling, the post sized to provide a gap between a post tip and the padlock when the padlock is in at least one locked position for accommodating a bottom wall of the airway cavity enclosure, a locking mechanism within the body cooperating with at least one of the legs in the corresponding leg passage of the body for releasably locking the post in the airway cavity of the air brake coupling in the at least one locked position, and an actuator for selectively locking and unlocking the padlock. The post may be attached to the body or the shackle.
Description
AIR BRAKE COUPLING PADLOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to the field of padlocks. In particular, this invention relates to a padlock for an air brake coupling of a trailer with air brakes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tractor-trailers have been used for decades in North America and elsewhere as a cost effective way of moving goods over land. The tractor of a tractor-trailer combination is often owned by Independent Truck Drivers whereas the trailer is often owned by individual Companies wishing to transport their goods or owned by Leasing Companies leasing out the trailers.
A tractor contains a device called a fifth wheel which, when connected to the corresponding kingpin on a trailer, results in the pin being lodged in the center of the fifth wheel, securely connecting the tractor to the trailer in a pivoting relationship to allow the tractor trailer combination to negotiate turns on a highway. Given that the tractor and trailer are manufactured as two separate components of the combination, and given that the trailer pivots about the kingpin in the fifth wheel of the tractor, any hoses, wiring or other connections between the tractor and the trailer must allow for slack in the connections required during turns.
Given the size and weight of a loaded trailer, the wheels of a trailer are usually provided with an air-brake system which is typically controlled from the cab of a tractor. The air pressure required to operate air brakes is typically generated by the tractor and connected to the air braking system of the trailer. The air supply for the air brakes of a trailer is typically delivered to the trailer by a flexible hose connected to the air supply on the tractor, terminating at the other end of the hose in an air brake coupling often referred to as a "Gladhand." A mating coupling is typically attached to the trailer by a flexible hose or fixed pipe attached to the trailer. Each of the two mating air brake couplings or gladhands when joined together comprise part of the airway between the air brake system of the tractor and the braking system of the trailer. When the two mating couplings are joined, a leak-proof pressurized air line is provided from the tractor's air braking system to the trailer's air braking system.
As a tractor may be necessary for other jobs while a trailer awaits loading or unloading, the trailer is often left unattached to a tractor with all of the connections between the tractor and trailer disconnected, including the mating air brake couplings. Given the time necessary to load or unload a trailer, even with a fork lift, the trailer is often left loaded overnight in areas with minimal or little security. Further, it may be necessary for the driver of a Tractor to leave a loaded or unloaded Trailer locked, but unattended, while the tractor is elsewhere, either performing other hauling duties, or in an automotive shop for repairs or the like. Unfortunately, a trailer loaded with goods makes an attractive and easy target for thieves given the often significant value of the cargo. Even Page -1-unsupervised empty trailers may be subject to theft. This results in significant insurance claims and possible lack of future work to the owner/operator of the tractor from the trucking company owning the stolen trailer or cargo. Due to the standard size and design of a trailer's kingpin for mating with the fifth wheel of a tractor, it is all too easy for a thief with a tractor to back up the tractor and attach the trailer's kingpin to the tractor's fifth wheel to steal the trailer. A
thief then need do little more than attach the trailer's air brake coupling to the tractor's air brake coupling in order to have full control of the combined braking system, thus allowing the thief to escape with the loaded or unloaded trailer.
A typical trailer air brake system requires the injection of pressurized air into the air brake system in order to release the air brakes. Without pressurizing the trailer's air brake lines, a trailer's wheels remain locked, thus preventing the wheels on the trailer from turning. This makes it either impossible for a tractor to pull a loaded trailer or results in the locked wheels of a trailer being dragged across the pavement while being pulled, eventually resulting in the trailer's tires being ruptured. In either event, pulling the trailer without freeing up the wheels of the trailer is almost impossible. Accordingly, various devices have been developed to prevent the air brakes of a parked trailer from being unlocked, except by the party entitled to legitimate possession of the trailer.
One approach has been to build devices directly into the trailer, as original equipment or as a retrofit, to prevent the air brakes from being disengaged without authority. Examples of these are U.S. Patent No. 4,543,984 to Murray, U.S. Patent No. US 6,338,534 B1 to Kee and Gray, and U.S. Patent No.
US 6,652,042 B2 to Johnson. All of these approaches require significant modifications to a trailer and require the commitment of the trailer owner. As such permanent installations may require cooperation between the owner of a tractor and the owner of a trailer, a trailer owner may be concerned that any such device may not be standard in the Industry. This is especially so when trailers are often carried by different independent owner/operators of tractors. Such modifications in addition to being somewhat complicated are also relatively costly.
Another approach has been to provide devices to secure movement of the air brake controls in the cab of the tractor, such as those found in U.S. Patent No. 5,375,916 to Cook, U.S. Patent No.
5,560,233 to Watkins, U.S. Patent No. US 6,964,459 B2 to Cormier, and U.S.
Patent No. 5,813,256 to von Hagen. U.S. Patent No. 5,813,256 to von Hagen discloses a modified padlock, but is designed and sized only to fit through the shaft of a control knob in a tractor.
Unfortunately, none of these devices protect the air brake lines of a trailer when the tractor with the secured knobs is not connected to the trailer. Even then, such devices may be relatively intricate, somewhat costly, and may need to be custom manufactured for different designs of air brake control knobs, which may not have an industry standard.
Another approach has been to block the airway of the gladhand of the trailer, such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,076,380 to Hulak. Although employing the use of a standard padlock, this invention comprises a cumbersome additional casing that must be padlocked to hold a projection in the airway to prevent the casing covering the gladhand from being removed, which includes the cost of the casing and a standard padlock and which may make the device more susceptible to breakage Page -2-by a thief.
Accordingly, a simple, strong and economical device to block the airway of a trailer's gladhand is desirable and heretofore unknown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides for a padlock for blocking an airway cavity of an air brake coupling of a trailer, the padlock having a U-Shaped shackle having two legs sized to straddle opposing sides of an airway cavity enclosure of the air brake coupling, a body having a corresponding leg passage for each of the two legs, a post attached to the padlock for insertion of the post into the airway cavity of the air brake coupling with the post sized to provide a gap between a post tip and the padlock when the padlock is in at least one locked position for accommodating a bottom wall of the airway cavity enclosure, a locking mechanism within the body cooperating with at least one of the legs in the corresponding leg passage of the body for releasably locking the post in the airway cavity of the air brake coupling in the at least one locked position, and an actuator for selectively locking and unlocking the padlock. The post may be attached to the body or the shackle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.1 is a perspective view of a prior art air brake coupling.
Fig.2 is a side view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. 1.
Fig.3 is a top view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.1.
Fig.4 is a sectional end view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. 3 taken along line 4-4.
Fig.5 is a perspective view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. l attached to a trailer with a first embodiment of a padlock shown in a locked position on the air brake coupling.
Fig.6 is a front view of the first embodiment of the padlock shown in Fig.5 with a post attached to the shackle and showing the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.4 in section.
Fig.7 is a top view of the first embodiment of the padlock of Fig.6 shown in a locked position attached to the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.3.
Fig.8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a padlock with a post attached to the body and showing the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.4 in section.
Fig.9 is a front view of the second embodiment of the padlock of Fig.8 shown to scale.
Page -3-Fig. 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of the padlock shown to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with respect to the figures.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical or standard prior art air brake coupling 20, also known as a gladhand, namely, Phillips (TM) model number 12-008 E. Coupling 20 has a housing 21 defining air channel 39 between threaded orifice 40 and airway cavity 22 through neck 38. Airway cavity enclosure 25 defines airway cavity 22 and mouth 24 of airway cavity 22. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has opposing sides 32 of air brake coupling 20. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has bottom wal136 and mouth 24 at the top of airway cavity enclosure 25. Gasket 26 is mounted in mouth 24. Gasket 26 defines gasket aperture 28, the highest point along the circumference of gasket aperture 28 being gasket top 30. In order to provide air to the air brakes of a trailer from a corresponding tractor, identical opposing airbrake couplings 20 are typically designed to lock together to form an airtight seal between the gasket top 30 of each of two opposing gaskets 26 of each of the two opposing couplings 20 to create an airtight seal between threaded orifice 40 of one airbrake coupling 20 and the threaded orifice 40 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20. Mating flange 42 typically locks together with mating projection 44 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20, and vice versa.
Airway cavity enclosure 25 typically has an outer upper edge 34 of mouth 24.
Figure 2 is a side view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1.
Figure 2 shows more clearly air channel 39 between threaded orifice 40 and inner surface of side wall of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b (shown in Fig. 4). As in figure 1, housing 21 has threaded orifice 40 which is connected to neck 38 which in turn is connected to airway cavity enclosure 25.
Airway cavity enclosure 25 has sides 32 and outer upper edge 34 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has bottom wall 36 and inner surface of bottom wal136a and side wall 46 of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. Gasket 26 is once again shown mounted in mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Gasket 26 also defines gasket aperture 28 and gasket top 30. Each of two mating projections 44 is locked under a separate mating flange 42 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20.
Figure 3 is a top view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1.
Figure 3 more clearly shows the location of sides 32 of airway cavity enclosure 25. The airway cavity 22 is shown through gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 which is mounted in mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Outer upper edge 34 of upper air way cavity enclosure 25a shows that outer upper edge 34 is typically along the outer circumference of airway cavity enclosure 25. The gasket aperture 28 is shown with a smaller diameter than inner surface of sidewa1146a of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. The highest point of Gasket 26 above mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25 is at gasket top 30 along the circumference of gasket aperture 28. Air channel 3 9 is once again shown connecting threaded orifice 40 to inner surface of sidewall 46a of airway cavity enclosure 25 through neck 38. Mating projection 44 is received and locked under mating flange 42 of the corresponding identical airbrake Page -4-coupling 20.
Figure 4 is a sectional end view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 3 taken along line 4-4.
Housing 21 comprises airway cavity enclosure 25 which in turn comprises upper airway cavity enclosure 25a and lower airway cavity enclosure 25b which together define airway cavity 22 which in turn comprises upper airway cavity 22a and lower airway cavity 22b. Lower airway cavity enclosure 25b comprises sidewall 46 having inner surface of sidewall 46a and bottom wall 36 having inner surface of bottom wall 36a and outer surface of bottom wal136b.
Upper airway cavity enclosure 25a comprises mouth 24 into which Gasket 26 is installed. Gasket 26 is typically held in place by circular Gasket extension 27b which is received in circular Gasket recess 27a in upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. In operation air passes through gasket aperture 28, including upper airway cavity 22a, lower airway cavity 22b and air channel 39 (not shown in figure 4) to reach threaded orifice 40. The dimensions of the airway cavity enclosure 25 of the exemplary airbrake coupling 20 include width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25, and height 56 of airway cavity enclosure 25 and gasket 26 from gasket top 30 to outer surface of bottom wal136b. Upper airway cavity enclosure 25a has outer upper edge 34 and inner upper edge 35 defining mouth 24. Lower airway cavity enclosure 25b has top edge 37 of lower airway cavity 22b. Width 23 of lower airway cavity 22b typically has a diameter less than the diameter of mouth 24 but greater than the diameter of gasket aperture 28.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1 attached to a trailer 50 with a first embodiment of a padlock 60 shown in a locked position on the airbrake coupling 20.
Threaded mounting pipe 48 attached to trailer 50 has threaded end 49 which is received in threaded orifice 40 (not shown) of airbrake coupling 20.
Figure 6 is a front view of the first embodiment of the padlock 60 with a post 80 attached to the shackle with curved head 62 and showing the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 4 in section.
Padlock 60 Comprises Shackle with Curved Head 62 having two legs 74 for insertion into leg passages 90 of body 88 of padlock 60. Legs 74 are held in leg passages 90 by any one of many prior art locking mechanisms internal to lock body 88, which locking mechanism locks at least one of the two legs 74 within body 88, although said locking mechanism or mechanisms may operate on both legs 74. The locking mechanism may be engaged and disengaged by a key 94 or other prior art means for locking and unlocking padlock legs. Legs 74 may be equipped with angled notches 76 to allow shackle with curved head 62 to be ratcheted over coupling 20 in order to allow shackle 62 to draw coupling 20 as close as possible to body top 92 of body 88 of padlock 60.
Legs 74 of shackle 62 may terminate in tapered leg ends 78 to facilitate entry of legs 74 into leg passages 90 and past the internal locking mechanism or mechanisms of body 88 to permit angled notches 76 to commence ratcheting of legs 74.
Post 80 has post tip 84 and post base 82, post base 82 being fixedly attached to inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 such that post 80 is substantially aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of padlock 60 for receiving post 80 in gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 and at least upper airway cavity 22a and preferably lower airway cavity 22b of airway cavity 22 in airway cavity enclosure 25 of Page -5-housing 21. Distance 68 between inside surfaces of parallel legs 74 must be greater than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25. When shackle with curved head 62 is used post 80 must be long enough to enter at least upper airway cavity 22a, and preferably lower airway cavity 22b, given that outer upper edge 34 of sides of airway cavity enclosure 32 engage inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 below post base 82 in this embodiment. Although post 80 will usually be mounted through at least a portion of gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26, post 80 must be long enough to at least enter mouth 24 of upper airway cavity 22a as gasket 26 which would typically be made of rubber or like compound may be removed, deformed, or damaged while attempting to remove coupling 20 from padlock 60 without shackle 62 being released from body 88. The airway cavity enclosure 25 of prior art coupling 20 is typically made of metal which will not easily permit post 80 to be removed from coupling 20 without key 94 or other release means for body 88.
Curved head 64 of shackle 62 may comprise part or all of shackle 62 above body top 92 when coupling 20 is in a locked position within padlock 60. Legs 74 must engage the locking mechanism (not shown) of body 88 such that there must be at least one locked position wherein there is a gap 86 between post tip 84 and body top 92 at least slightly greater than the thickness of bottom wall 36 of airway cavity enclosure 25. The diameter of post 80 must be less than the diameter of mouth 24 for post 80 to enter upper airway cavity 22a and the diameter of post 80 must be less than the diameter of the lower airway cavity 22b for post 82 and her lower airway cavity 22b. Legs 74 must also engage the locking mechanism (not shown) of body 88 such that there must be at least one locked position wherein distance 72 between body top 92 and the lowest point at which outer upper edge 34 meets inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 is at least slightly greater than the perpendicular distance between the outer upper edge 34 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a and the outer surface of bottom wa1136b of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b.
Figure 7 is a top view of the first embodiment of padlock 60 shown on the prior art air brake coupling 20. Distance 68 between inside edges of parallel legs 74 must be at least slightly wider than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25. Coupling 20 is shown on top of body top 92 of body 88.
Post 80 is shown inserted in gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 which in turn is mounted in mouth 24 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. Post 80 is also shown in lower airway cavity 22b within the inner surface of side wal146a of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. Head 64 of curved shackle 62 is shown spanning between legs 74 and attached to post 80. Gasket top 30 does not engage inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 unless the curvature of head 64 is extremely shallow.
Housing 21 of coupling 20 is also shown as comprising mating flange 42 for engaging mating projection 44 of a corresponding coupling 20. Housing 21 is also shown as having neck 38 and airway cavity enclosure 25.
Figure 8 shows a 2d embodiment of the invention as padlock 100. Body 107 may be substantially identical to body 88 of the first embodiment with the exception that post 110 is a attached to body 107 rather than Flathead shackle 102. Distance 120 between inside surfaces of parallel legs 74 must be at least slightly larger than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25.
Shackle head 104 of Flathead shackle 102 may have small interior curved corners 105 which do not interfere with outer surface Page -6-of bottom wall 36b of airway cavity enclosure 25 mating substantially flush with inside surface 118 of head 104. The perpendicular distance between the body top 108 and inside surface 118 of head 104 of shackle 102 should be at least slightly larger than the distance between the outer surface of bottom wall 36b of airway cavity enclosure 25 and Gasket top 30 of Gasket 26.
Post 110 has post base 114 where post 110 is attached to body 107, and post 110 also has post tip 112. Padlock 100 must have at least one locking position wherein distance 116 between post tip 112 and inside surface 118 of the head 104 of shackle 102 is at least slightly greater than the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Legs 74, which may have angled notches 76 and which may have tapered leg ends 78 of shackle 102, travel into or through leg passages 90 and cooperate with a locking mechanism (not shown) within body 107 substantially in the same manner described in the first embodiment of the invention shown in figures 6 and 7, and which locking mechanism may be engaged and disengaged by key 94.
Figure 9 is a front view of padlock 200 showing the 2 d embodiment of the padlock 100 shown in figure 8 to scale to fit a Phillips (TM) airbrake coupling model number 12-008 E. Flat head shackle 202 including head of Flathead shackle 204 and legs 74 preferably have diameter of shackle 212.Post 110, with post base 114 and post tip 112, preferably has a post diameter 216 of 12 mm. Post 110 preferably has post height 220 of 23 mm. Padlock 200 also has inside surfaces of Flathead shackle 206 with distance between inside surfaces of parallel legs 214 of 55 mm.
Padlock 200 also has Flathead shackle 202 with outside surfaces 205 of legs 74 and distance 222 between outside surfaces 205 of parallel legs 74 of 75 mm based on diameter 212 of shackle legs 74 of 10 mm. Gap 218 between post tip 212 and inside surface 226 of head 204 of flat head shackle 202 is at least 7 mm to accommodate the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25 of coupling 20 (not shown in figure 9). Padlock 200 also has distance 210 between body top 208 and inside surface 226 of head 204 of Flathead shackle 202 of at least 30 mm to accommodate height of airway cavity enclosure and Gasket 56. Shackle 202 also preferably has shackle length 224 of 130 mm. Body 207 has leg passages 90 preferably about 11 mm in diameter. Legs 74 may also have tapered leg ends 78 and notches 76 and may use key 94 to operate a locking mechanism (not shown) in body 207 to lock legs 74.
Figure 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention showing padlock 300 substantially to scale to fit to a Phillips (TM) air brake coupling model number 12-008 E.
Flat head shackle with attached post 302 has post 326 with a post base 328 attached to shackle 302, post 326 having post tip 330 for insertion into airway cavity 22 of coupling 20 (not shown). Post 326 preferably has a post diameter 316 of 12 mm. Shackle 302 has inside surfaces 306 of Legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302 and outside surfaces 305 of legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302. Shackle 302 including head of Flathead shackle 304 and legs 74 preferably has a diameter 312 of 10 mm. Padlock 300 also has distance 314 between inside surfaces 306 of parallel legs 74 of 55 mm. Post 326 has post height 320 between post tip 330 and inside surface 332 of head 304 of Flathead shackle 302 at post base 328. Padlock 300 preferably has distance 322 between outside surfaces 305 of legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302 of 75 mm based on diameter of shackle 312 of 10 mm. Gap 318 between post tip 330 and body top 308 is at least 7 mm to accommodate the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25 of coupling 20 (not shown in figure 10). The padlock 300 also has a distance 310 between inside Page -7-surface 332 of head 304 of shackle 302 and body top 308 of 30 mm to accommodate height of airway cavity enclosure and Gasket 56. Shackle 302 also preferably has shackle length 324 of 130 mm. Body 88 has leg passages 90 preferably about 11 mm in diameter. Legs 74 may also have tapered leg ends 78 and notches 76 and may use key 94 to operate a locking mechanism (not shown) in body 88 to lock legs 74.
Finally, it is to be understood that the above mentioned embodiments are only various examples of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the Claims.
Page -8-PARTS LIST
20 Air brake coupling 21 housing 22 Airway cavity 22a Upper airway cavity 22b Lower airway cavity 23 Width (of lower airway cavity) 24 Mouth (of airway cavity) 25 Airway cavity enclosure 25a Upper airway cavity enclosure 25b Lower airway cavity enclosure 26 Gasket 27a Circular gasket recess 27b Circular gasket extension 28 Gasket Aperture 30 Gasket Top 32 Sides (of airway cavity enclosure) 32a Width (of airway cavity enclosure) 34 Outer upper edge 35 Inner upper edge Page -12-36 Bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 36a Inner surface of bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 36b Outer surface of bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 37 Top edge of lower airway cavity 38 Neck 39 Air channel 39a Longitudinal axis (of air channel) 40 Threaded orifice 42 Mating Flange 44 Mating projection 46 Side wall (of lower of airway cavity enclosure) 46a Inner surface of side wall (of lower airway cavity enclosure) 48 Threaded mounting pipe 49 Threaded end (of threaded mounting pipe) 50 Trailer 52 Height of airway cavity enclosure 56 Height of airway cavity enclosure and gasket 60 Padlock with post attached to curved shackle 62 Shackle with curved head 64 Head (of curved shackle) 66 Inside surface (of curved shackle) 68 Distance between inside surfaces of parallel legs Page -13-72 Distance (between body top and point of contact of upper outer edge of coupling at inside surface of curved shackle) 74 Legs (of shackle) 76 Notches (in legs of shackle) 78 Tapered leg ends 80 Post attached to curved shackle 82 Post base (attached to curved head shackle) 84 Post tip (for insertion into airway cavity of coupling) 86 Gap between post tip and body top 88 Body 90 Leg passages (in body) 92 Body top 94 Key (to padlock) 100 Padlock with post attached to body of padlock 102 Flat head shackle 104 Shackle head (of flat head shackle) 105 Small interior curved corners ( of flat head shackle) 106 Inside surfaces of flat head shackle (between parallel legs) 107 Body (with attached post) 108 Body top (with post attached to body) 110 Post (attached to body) 112 Post tip Page -14-114 Post base (attached to body) 116 Gap (between post tip and inside surface of flat head shackle) 118 Distance (between body top and inside surface of flat head shackle) 120 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 122 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) 200 Padlock with post attached to body (to scale for use with phillips (TM) 12-008E air brake coupling) 202 Flat head shackle 204 Head of flat head shackle 205 Outside surfaces of legs of flat head shackle 206 Inside surfaces of legs of flat head shackle 207 Body (of padlock with attached post) 208 Body top (with attached post) 210 Distance (between body top and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 212 Diameter of shackle head and legs 214 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 216 Post diameter 218 Gap (between post tip and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 220 Post height (of post attached to body of padlock) 222 Distance between outside surfaces of parallel legs 224 Shackle length 226 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) Page -15-300 Padlock with post attached to flat head shackle (to scale for use with Phillips (TM) 12-008E air brake coupling) 302 Flat head shackle (with post attached to shackle) 304 Head (of flat head shackle) 305 Outside surfaces of parallel legs of flat head shackle 306 Inside surfaces of parallel legs of flat head shackle 308 Body top 310 Distance between body top and inside surface of head of flat head shackle 312 Diameter of shackle head and legs 314 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 316 Post diameter 318 Gap (between post tip and body top) 320 Post height (between post tip and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 322 Distance (between outside surfaces of parallel legs) 324 Shackle length 326 Post (attached to flat head shackle) 328 Post base (attached to flat head shackle) 330 Post tip (of post attached to flat head shackle) 332 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) Page -16-
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates generally to the field of padlocks. In particular, this invention relates to a padlock for an air brake coupling of a trailer with air brakes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Tractor-trailers have been used for decades in North America and elsewhere as a cost effective way of moving goods over land. The tractor of a tractor-trailer combination is often owned by Independent Truck Drivers whereas the trailer is often owned by individual Companies wishing to transport their goods or owned by Leasing Companies leasing out the trailers.
A tractor contains a device called a fifth wheel which, when connected to the corresponding kingpin on a trailer, results in the pin being lodged in the center of the fifth wheel, securely connecting the tractor to the trailer in a pivoting relationship to allow the tractor trailer combination to negotiate turns on a highway. Given that the tractor and trailer are manufactured as two separate components of the combination, and given that the trailer pivots about the kingpin in the fifth wheel of the tractor, any hoses, wiring or other connections between the tractor and the trailer must allow for slack in the connections required during turns.
Given the size and weight of a loaded trailer, the wheels of a trailer are usually provided with an air-brake system which is typically controlled from the cab of a tractor. The air pressure required to operate air brakes is typically generated by the tractor and connected to the air braking system of the trailer. The air supply for the air brakes of a trailer is typically delivered to the trailer by a flexible hose connected to the air supply on the tractor, terminating at the other end of the hose in an air brake coupling often referred to as a "Gladhand." A mating coupling is typically attached to the trailer by a flexible hose or fixed pipe attached to the trailer. Each of the two mating air brake couplings or gladhands when joined together comprise part of the airway between the air brake system of the tractor and the braking system of the trailer. When the two mating couplings are joined, a leak-proof pressurized air line is provided from the tractor's air braking system to the trailer's air braking system.
As a tractor may be necessary for other jobs while a trailer awaits loading or unloading, the trailer is often left unattached to a tractor with all of the connections between the tractor and trailer disconnected, including the mating air brake couplings. Given the time necessary to load or unload a trailer, even with a fork lift, the trailer is often left loaded overnight in areas with minimal or little security. Further, it may be necessary for the driver of a Tractor to leave a loaded or unloaded Trailer locked, but unattended, while the tractor is elsewhere, either performing other hauling duties, or in an automotive shop for repairs or the like. Unfortunately, a trailer loaded with goods makes an attractive and easy target for thieves given the often significant value of the cargo. Even Page -1-unsupervised empty trailers may be subject to theft. This results in significant insurance claims and possible lack of future work to the owner/operator of the tractor from the trucking company owning the stolen trailer or cargo. Due to the standard size and design of a trailer's kingpin for mating with the fifth wheel of a tractor, it is all too easy for a thief with a tractor to back up the tractor and attach the trailer's kingpin to the tractor's fifth wheel to steal the trailer. A
thief then need do little more than attach the trailer's air brake coupling to the tractor's air brake coupling in order to have full control of the combined braking system, thus allowing the thief to escape with the loaded or unloaded trailer.
A typical trailer air brake system requires the injection of pressurized air into the air brake system in order to release the air brakes. Without pressurizing the trailer's air brake lines, a trailer's wheels remain locked, thus preventing the wheels on the trailer from turning. This makes it either impossible for a tractor to pull a loaded trailer or results in the locked wheels of a trailer being dragged across the pavement while being pulled, eventually resulting in the trailer's tires being ruptured. In either event, pulling the trailer without freeing up the wheels of the trailer is almost impossible. Accordingly, various devices have been developed to prevent the air brakes of a parked trailer from being unlocked, except by the party entitled to legitimate possession of the trailer.
One approach has been to build devices directly into the trailer, as original equipment or as a retrofit, to prevent the air brakes from being disengaged without authority. Examples of these are U.S. Patent No. 4,543,984 to Murray, U.S. Patent No. US 6,338,534 B1 to Kee and Gray, and U.S. Patent No.
US 6,652,042 B2 to Johnson. All of these approaches require significant modifications to a trailer and require the commitment of the trailer owner. As such permanent installations may require cooperation between the owner of a tractor and the owner of a trailer, a trailer owner may be concerned that any such device may not be standard in the Industry. This is especially so when trailers are often carried by different independent owner/operators of tractors. Such modifications in addition to being somewhat complicated are also relatively costly.
Another approach has been to provide devices to secure movement of the air brake controls in the cab of the tractor, such as those found in U.S. Patent No. 5,375,916 to Cook, U.S. Patent No.
5,560,233 to Watkins, U.S. Patent No. US 6,964,459 B2 to Cormier, and U.S.
Patent No. 5,813,256 to von Hagen. U.S. Patent No. 5,813,256 to von Hagen discloses a modified padlock, but is designed and sized only to fit through the shaft of a control knob in a tractor.
Unfortunately, none of these devices protect the air brake lines of a trailer when the tractor with the secured knobs is not connected to the trailer. Even then, such devices may be relatively intricate, somewhat costly, and may need to be custom manufactured for different designs of air brake control knobs, which may not have an industry standard.
Another approach has been to block the airway of the gladhand of the trailer, such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,076,380 to Hulak. Although employing the use of a standard padlock, this invention comprises a cumbersome additional casing that must be padlocked to hold a projection in the airway to prevent the casing covering the gladhand from being removed, which includes the cost of the casing and a standard padlock and which may make the device more susceptible to breakage Page -2-by a thief.
Accordingly, a simple, strong and economical device to block the airway of a trailer's gladhand is desirable and heretofore unknown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides for a padlock for blocking an airway cavity of an air brake coupling of a trailer, the padlock having a U-Shaped shackle having two legs sized to straddle opposing sides of an airway cavity enclosure of the air brake coupling, a body having a corresponding leg passage for each of the two legs, a post attached to the padlock for insertion of the post into the airway cavity of the air brake coupling with the post sized to provide a gap between a post tip and the padlock when the padlock is in at least one locked position for accommodating a bottom wall of the airway cavity enclosure, a locking mechanism within the body cooperating with at least one of the legs in the corresponding leg passage of the body for releasably locking the post in the airway cavity of the air brake coupling in the at least one locked position, and an actuator for selectively locking and unlocking the padlock. The post may be attached to the body or the shackle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig.1 is a perspective view of a prior art air brake coupling.
Fig.2 is a side view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. 1.
Fig.3 is a top view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.1.
Fig.4 is a sectional end view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. 3 taken along line 4-4.
Fig.5 is a perspective view of the prior art air brake coupling of Fig. l attached to a trailer with a first embodiment of a padlock shown in a locked position on the air brake coupling.
Fig.6 is a front view of the first embodiment of the padlock shown in Fig.5 with a post attached to the shackle and showing the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.4 in section.
Fig.7 is a top view of the first embodiment of the padlock of Fig.6 shown in a locked position attached to the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.3.
Fig.8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a padlock with a post attached to the body and showing the prior art air brake coupling of Fig.4 in section.
Fig.9 is a front view of the second embodiment of the padlock of Fig.8 shown to scale.
Page -3-Fig. 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of the padlock shown to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with respect to the figures.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical or standard prior art air brake coupling 20, also known as a gladhand, namely, Phillips (TM) model number 12-008 E. Coupling 20 has a housing 21 defining air channel 39 between threaded orifice 40 and airway cavity 22 through neck 38. Airway cavity enclosure 25 defines airway cavity 22 and mouth 24 of airway cavity 22. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has opposing sides 32 of air brake coupling 20. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has bottom wal136 and mouth 24 at the top of airway cavity enclosure 25. Gasket 26 is mounted in mouth 24. Gasket 26 defines gasket aperture 28, the highest point along the circumference of gasket aperture 28 being gasket top 30. In order to provide air to the air brakes of a trailer from a corresponding tractor, identical opposing airbrake couplings 20 are typically designed to lock together to form an airtight seal between the gasket top 30 of each of two opposing gaskets 26 of each of the two opposing couplings 20 to create an airtight seal between threaded orifice 40 of one airbrake coupling 20 and the threaded orifice 40 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20. Mating flange 42 typically locks together with mating projection 44 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20, and vice versa.
Airway cavity enclosure 25 typically has an outer upper edge 34 of mouth 24.
Figure 2 is a side view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1.
Figure 2 shows more clearly air channel 39 between threaded orifice 40 and inner surface of side wall of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b (shown in Fig. 4). As in figure 1, housing 21 has threaded orifice 40 which is connected to neck 38 which in turn is connected to airway cavity enclosure 25.
Airway cavity enclosure 25 has sides 32 and outer upper edge 34 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. Airway cavity enclosure 25 has bottom wall 36 and inner surface of bottom wal136a and side wall 46 of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. Gasket 26 is once again shown mounted in mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Gasket 26 also defines gasket aperture 28 and gasket top 30. Each of two mating projections 44 is locked under a separate mating flange 42 of the corresponding airbrake coupling 20.
Figure 3 is a top view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1.
Figure 3 more clearly shows the location of sides 32 of airway cavity enclosure 25. The airway cavity 22 is shown through gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 which is mounted in mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Outer upper edge 34 of upper air way cavity enclosure 25a shows that outer upper edge 34 is typically along the outer circumference of airway cavity enclosure 25. The gasket aperture 28 is shown with a smaller diameter than inner surface of sidewa1146a of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. The highest point of Gasket 26 above mouth 24 of airway cavity enclosure 25 is at gasket top 30 along the circumference of gasket aperture 28. Air channel 3 9 is once again shown connecting threaded orifice 40 to inner surface of sidewall 46a of airway cavity enclosure 25 through neck 38. Mating projection 44 is received and locked under mating flange 42 of the corresponding identical airbrake Page -4-coupling 20.
Figure 4 is a sectional end view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 3 taken along line 4-4.
Housing 21 comprises airway cavity enclosure 25 which in turn comprises upper airway cavity enclosure 25a and lower airway cavity enclosure 25b which together define airway cavity 22 which in turn comprises upper airway cavity 22a and lower airway cavity 22b. Lower airway cavity enclosure 25b comprises sidewall 46 having inner surface of sidewall 46a and bottom wall 36 having inner surface of bottom wall 36a and outer surface of bottom wal136b.
Upper airway cavity enclosure 25a comprises mouth 24 into which Gasket 26 is installed. Gasket 26 is typically held in place by circular Gasket extension 27b which is received in circular Gasket recess 27a in upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. In operation air passes through gasket aperture 28, including upper airway cavity 22a, lower airway cavity 22b and air channel 39 (not shown in figure 4) to reach threaded orifice 40. The dimensions of the airway cavity enclosure 25 of the exemplary airbrake coupling 20 include width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25, and height 56 of airway cavity enclosure 25 and gasket 26 from gasket top 30 to outer surface of bottom wal136b. Upper airway cavity enclosure 25a has outer upper edge 34 and inner upper edge 35 defining mouth 24. Lower airway cavity enclosure 25b has top edge 37 of lower airway cavity 22b. Width 23 of lower airway cavity 22b typically has a diameter less than the diameter of mouth 24 but greater than the diameter of gasket aperture 28.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 1 attached to a trailer 50 with a first embodiment of a padlock 60 shown in a locked position on the airbrake coupling 20.
Threaded mounting pipe 48 attached to trailer 50 has threaded end 49 which is received in threaded orifice 40 (not shown) of airbrake coupling 20.
Figure 6 is a front view of the first embodiment of the padlock 60 with a post 80 attached to the shackle with curved head 62 and showing the prior art air brake coupling 20 of figure 4 in section.
Padlock 60 Comprises Shackle with Curved Head 62 having two legs 74 for insertion into leg passages 90 of body 88 of padlock 60. Legs 74 are held in leg passages 90 by any one of many prior art locking mechanisms internal to lock body 88, which locking mechanism locks at least one of the two legs 74 within body 88, although said locking mechanism or mechanisms may operate on both legs 74. The locking mechanism may be engaged and disengaged by a key 94 or other prior art means for locking and unlocking padlock legs. Legs 74 may be equipped with angled notches 76 to allow shackle with curved head 62 to be ratcheted over coupling 20 in order to allow shackle 62 to draw coupling 20 as close as possible to body top 92 of body 88 of padlock 60.
Legs 74 of shackle 62 may terminate in tapered leg ends 78 to facilitate entry of legs 74 into leg passages 90 and past the internal locking mechanism or mechanisms of body 88 to permit angled notches 76 to commence ratcheting of legs 74.
Post 80 has post tip 84 and post base 82, post base 82 being fixedly attached to inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 such that post 80 is substantially aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of padlock 60 for receiving post 80 in gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 and at least upper airway cavity 22a and preferably lower airway cavity 22b of airway cavity 22 in airway cavity enclosure 25 of Page -5-housing 21. Distance 68 between inside surfaces of parallel legs 74 must be greater than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25. When shackle with curved head 62 is used post 80 must be long enough to enter at least upper airway cavity 22a, and preferably lower airway cavity 22b, given that outer upper edge 34 of sides of airway cavity enclosure 32 engage inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 below post base 82 in this embodiment. Although post 80 will usually be mounted through at least a portion of gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26, post 80 must be long enough to at least enter mouth 24 of upper airway cavity 22a as gasket 26 which would typically be made of rubber or like compound may be removed, deformed, or damaged while attempting to remove coupling 20 from padlock 60 without shackle 62 being released from body 88. The airway cavity enclosure 25 of prior art coupling 20 is typically made of metal which will not easily permit post 80 to be removed from coupling 20 without key 94 or other release means for body 88.
Curved head 64 of shackle 62 may comprise part or all of shackle 62 above body top 92 when coupling 20 is in a locked position within padlock 60. Legs 74 must engage the locking mechanism (not shown) of body 88 such that there must be at least one locked position wherein there is a gap 86 between post tip 84 and body top 92 at least slightly greater than the thickness of bottom wall 36 of airway cavity enclosure 25. The diameter of post 80 must be less than the diameter of mouth 24 for post 80 to enter upper airway cavity 22a and the diameter of post 80 must be less than the diameter of the lower airway cavity 22b for post 82 and her lower airway cavity 22b. Legs 74 must also engage the locking mechanism (not shown) of body 88 such that there must be at least one locked position wherein distance 72 between body top 92 and the lowest point at which outer upper edge 34 meets inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 is at least slightly greater than the perpendicular distance between the outer upper edge 34 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a and the outer surface of bottom wa1136b of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b.
Figure 7 is a top view of the first embodiment of padlock 60 shown on the prior art air brake coupling 20. Distance 68 between inside edges of parallel legs 74 must be at least slightly wider than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25. Coupling 20 is shown on top of body top 92 of body 88.
Post 80 is shown inserted in gasket aperture 28 of Gasket 26 which in turn is mounted in mouth 24 of upper airway cavity enclosure 25a. Post 80 is also shown in lower airway cavity 22b within the inner surface of side wal146a of lower airway cavity enclosure 25b. Head 64 of curved shackle 62 is shown spanning between legs 74 and attached to post 80. Gasket top 30 does not engage inside surface 66 of curved shackle 62 unless the curvature of head 64 is extremely shallow.
Housing 21 of coupling 20 is also shown as comprising mating flange 42 for engaging mating projection 44 of a corresponding coupling 20. Housing 21 is also shown as having neck 38 and airway cavity enclosure 25.
Figure 8 shows a 2d embodiment of the invention as padlock 100. Body 107 may be substantially identical to body 88 of the first embodiment with the exception that post 110 is a attached to body 107 rather than Flathead shackle 102. Distance 120 between inside surfaces of parallel legs 74 must be at least slightly larger than width 32a of airway cavity enclosure 25.
Shackle head 104 of Flathead shackle 102 may have small interior curved corners 105 which do not interfere with outer surface Page -6-of bottom wall 36b of airway cavity enclosure 25 mating substantially flush with inside surface 118 of head 104. The perpendicular distance between the body top 108 and inside surface 118 of head 104 of shackle 102 should be at least slightly larger than the distance between the outer surface of bottom wall 36b of airway cavity enclosure 25 and Gasket top 30 of Gasket 26.
Post 110 has post base 114 where post 110 is attached to body 107, and post 110 also has post tip 112. Padlock 100 must have at least one locking position wherein distance 116 between post tip 112 and inside surface 118 of the head 104 of shackle 102 is at least slightly greater than the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25. Legs 74, which may have angled notches 76 and which may have tapered leg ends 78 of shackle 102, travel into or through leg passages 90 and cooperate with a locking mechanism (not shown) within body 107 substantially in the same manner described in the first embodiment of the invention shown in figures 6 and 7, and which locking mechanism may be engaged and disengaged by key 94.
Figure 9 is a front view of padlock 200 showing the 2 d embodiment of the padlock 100 shown in figure 8 to scale to fit a Phillips (TM) airbrake coupling model number 12-008 E. Flat head shackle 202 including head of Flathead shackle 204 and legs 74 preferably have diameter of shackle 212.Post 110, with post base 114 and post tip 112, preferably has a post diameter 216 of 12 mm. Post 110 preferably has post height 220 of 23 mm. Padlock 200 also has inside surfaces of Flathead shackle 206 with distance between inside surfaces of parallel legs 214 of 55 mm.
Padlock 200 also has Flathead shackle 202 with outside surfaces 205 of legs 74 and distance 222 between outside surfaces 205 of parallel legs 74 of 75 mm based on diameter 212 of shackle legs 74 of 10 mm. Gap 218 between post tip 212 and inside surface 226 of head 204 of flat head shackle 202 is at least 7 mm to accommodate the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25 of coupling 20 (not shown in figure 9). Padlock 200 also has distance 210 between body top 208 and inside surface 226 of head 204 of Flathead shackle 202 of at least 30 mm to accommodate height of airway cavity enclosure and Gasket 56. Shackle 202 also preferably has shackle length 224 of 130 mm. Body 207 has leg passages 90 preferably about 11 mm in diameter. Legs 74 may also have tapered leg ends 78 and notches 76 and may use key 94 to operate a locking mechanism (not shown) in body 207 to lock legs 74.
Figure 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of the invention showing padlock 300 substantially to scale to fit to a Phillips (TM) air brake coupling model number 12-008 E.
Flat head shackle with attached post 302 has post 326 with a post base 328 attached to shackle 302, post 326 having post tip 330 for insertion into airway cavity 22 of coupling 20 (not shown). Post 326 preferably has a post diameter 316 of 12 mm. Shackle 302 has inside surfaces 306 of Legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302 and outside surfaces 305 of legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302. Shackle 302 including head of Flathead shackle 304 and legs 74 preferably has a diameter 312 of 10 mm. Padlock 300 also has distance 314 between inside surfaces 306 of parallel legs 74 of 55 mm. Post 326 has post height 320 between post tip 330 and inside surface 332 of head 304 of Flathead shackle 302 at post base 328. Padlock 300 preferably has distance 322 between outside surfaces 305 of legs 74 of Flathead shackle 302 of 75 mm based on diameter of shackle 312 of 10 mm. Gap 318 between post tip 330 and body top 308 is at least 7 mm to accommodate the thickness of bottom wal136 of airway cavity enclosure 25 of coupling 20 (not shown in figure 10). The padlock 300 also has a distance 310 between inside Page -7-surface 332 of head 304 of shackle 302 and body top 308 of 30 mm to accommodate height of airway cavity enclosure and Gasket 56. Shackle 302 also preferably has shackle length 324 of 130 mm. Body 88 has leg passages 90 preferably about 11 mm in diameter. Legs 74 may also have tapered leg ends 78 and notches 76 and may use key 94 to operate a locking mechanism (not shown) in body 88 to lock legs 74.
Finally, it is to be understood that the above mentioned embodiments are only various examples of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the Claims.
Page -8-PARTS LIST
20 Air brake coupling 21 housing 22 Airway cavity 22a Upper airway cavity 22b Lower airway cavity 23 Width (of lower airway cavity) 24 Mouth (of airway cavity) 25 Airway cavity enclosure 25a Upper airway cavity enclosure 25b Lower airway cavity enclosure 26 Gasket 27a Circular gasket recess 27b Circular gasket extension 28 Gasket Aperture 30 Gasket Top 32 Sides (of airway cavity enclosure) 32a Width (of airway cavity enclosure) 34 Outer upper edge 35 Inner upper edge Page -12-36 Bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 36a Inner surface of bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 36b Outer surface of bottom wall (of airway cavity enclosure) 37 Top edge of lower airway cavity 38 Neck 39 Air channel 39a Longitudinal axis (of air channel) 40 Threaded orifice 42 Mating Flange 44 Mating projection 46 Side wall (of lower of airway cavity enclosure) 46a Inner surface of side wall (of lower airway cavity enclosure) 48 Threaded mounting pipe 49 Threaded end (of threaded mounting pipe) 50 Trailer 52 Height of airway cavity enclosure 56 Height of airway cavity enclosure and gasket 60 Padlock with post attached to curved shackle 62 Shackle with curved head 64 Head (of curved shackle) 66 Inside surface (of curved shackle) 68 Distance between inside surfaces of parallel legs Page -13-72 Distance (between body top and point of contact of upper outer edge of coupling at inside surface of curved shackle) 74 Legs (of shackle) 76 Notches (in legs of shackle) 78 Tapered leg ends 80 Post attached to curved shackle 82 Post base (attached to curved head shackle) 84 Post tip (for insertion into airway cavity of coupling) 86 Gap between post tip and body top 88 Body 90 Leg passages (in body) 92 Body top 94 Key (to padlock) 100 Padlock with post attached to body of padlock 102 Flat head shackle 104 Shackle head (of flat head shackle) 105 Small interior curved corners ( of flat head shackle) 106 Inside surfaces of flat head shackle (between parallel legs) 107 Body (with attached post) 108 Body top (with post attached to body) 110 Post (attached to body) 112 Post tip Page -14-114 Post base (attached to body) 116 Gap (between post tip and inside surface of flat head shackle) 118 Distance (between body top and inside surface of flat head shackle) 120 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 122 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) 200 Padlock with post attached to body (to scale for use with phillips (TM) 12-008E air brake coupling) 202 Flat head shackle 204 Head of flat head shackle 205 Outside surfaces of legs of flat head shackle 206 Inside surfaces of legs of flat head shackle 207 Body (of padlock with attached post) 208 Body top (with attached post) 210 Distance (between body top and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 212 Diameter of shackle head and legs 214 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 216 Post diameter 218 Gap (between post tip and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 220 Post height (of post attached to body of padlock) 222 Distance between outside surfaces of parallel legs 224 Shackle length 226 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) Page -15-300 Padlock with post attached to flat head shackle (to scale for use with Phillips (TM) 12-008E air brake coupling) 302 Flat head shackle (with post attached to shackle) 304 Head (of flat head shackle) 305 Outside surfaces of parallel legs of flat head shackle 306 Inside surfaces of parallel legs of flat head shackle 308 Body top 310 Distance between body top and inside surface of head of flat head shackle 312 Diameter of shackle head and legs 314 Distance (between inside surfaces of parallel legs) 316 Post diameter 318 Gap (between post tip and body top) 320 Post height (between post tip and inside surface of head of flat head shackle) 322 Distance (between outside surfaces of parallel legs) 324 Shackle length 326 Post (attached to flat head shackle) 328 Post base (attached to flat head shackle) 330 Post tip (of post attached to flat head shackle) 332 Inside surface of head (of flat head shackle) Page -16-
Claims (13)
1. A padlock for blocking an airway cavity of an air brake coupling of a trailer, the padlock comprising:
a U-Shaped shackle having two legs sized to straddle opposing sides of an airway cavity enclosure of the air brake coupling, a body having a corresponding leg passage for each of the two legs, a post attached to the padlock for insertion of the post into the airway cavity of the air brake coupling, the post sized to provide a gap between a post tip and the padlock when the padlock is in at least one locked position for accommodating a bottom wall of the airway cavity enclosure, a locking mechanism within the body cooperating with at least one of the legs in the corresponding leg passage of the body for releasably locking the post in the airway cavity of the air brake coupling in the at least one locked position, and an actuator for selectively locking and unlocking the padlock.
a U-Shaped shackle having two legs sized to straddle opposing sides of an airway cavity enclosure of the air brake coupling, a body having a corresponding leg passage for each of the two legs, a post attached to the padlock for insertion of the post into the airway cavity of the air brake coupling, the post sized to provide a gap between a post tip and the padlock when the padlock is in at least one locked position for accommodating a bottom wall of the airway cavity enclosure, a locking mechanism within the body cooperating with at least one of the legs in the corresponding leg passage of the body for releasably locking the post in the airway cavity of the air brake coupling in the at least one locked position, and an actuator for selectively locking and unlocking the padlock.
2. The padlock of claim 1 wherein the post is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the padlock.
3. The padlock of any one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the post is attached to the shackle.
4. The padlock of any one of claim 1 to 2 wherein the post is attached to the body.
5. The padlock of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the locking mechanism within the body cooperates with two of the legs.
6. The padlock of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the actuator is a key.
7. The padlock of any one of claims 1-5 wherein the locking mechanism is actuated by a combination.
Page -9-
Page -9-
8. The padlock of any one of claims 1-7 wherein the two legs of the shackle are detachable from the body of the padlock.
9. The padlock of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the shackle is a flathead shackle.
10. The padlock of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the distance between the body top and the inside surface of the head of the padlock is adjustable.
11. The padlock of claim 10 wherein the distance is adjustable by a plurality of notches in at least one of the legs.
12. The padlock of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism is a ratchet mechanism within the body which acts upon at least one of the plurality of notches.
13. The use of the padlock of any one of claims 1-12 to block the airway cavity of the air brake coupling of the trailer.
Page -10-
Page -10-
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2649548 CA2649548A1 (en) | 2009-01-13 | 2009-01-13 | Air brake coupling padlock |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2649548 CA2649548A1 (en) | 2009-01-13 | 2009-01-13 | Air brake coupling padlock |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2649548A1 true CA2649548A1 (en) | 2010-07-13 |
Family
ID=42352617
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2649548 Abandoned CA2649548A1 (en) | 2009-01-13 | 2009-01-13 | Air brake coupling padlock |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2649548A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112026459A (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2020-12-04 | 中车四方车辆有限公司 | Car coupler adjusting device and highway-railway dual-purpose tractor |
-
2009
- 2009-01-13 CA CA 2649548 patent/CA2649548A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112026459A (en) * | 2020-09-02 | 2020-12-04 | 中车四方车辆有限公司 | Car coupler adjusting device and highway-railway dual-purpose tractor |
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